| 2023 season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Rob Salvatore |
| Manager | Ben Pirmann |
| Stadium | Patriots Point |
| USL | Eastern Conf.: 3rd |
| 2023 U.S. Open Cup | Round of 32 |
| USL Playoffs | USL Championship Final |
| Top goalscorer | Augustine Williams (15 goals) |
| Highest home attendance | 5,094 (Nov 12 vs.PHX) |
| Lowest home attendance | 1,661 (April 8 vs.HFD) |
| Average home league attendance | 3,112 |
The2023 Charleston Battery season was Charleston Battery's 31st season of competition which marked its 30th anniversary. Charleston compete in theUSL Championship, the second tier of professionalsoccer in the United States and the highest level in the USL.
The Battery enjoyed a successful bounce-back campaign in 2023, reaching theUSL Championship Final after failing to make the postseason the year before.
The Battery ended their 2022 season in 12th, near the bottom of the Eastern Conference table.[1] They also suffered a 0-1 loss toTormenta FC, ending theirU.S. Open Cup run in the second round.[2]
One week prior to the end of the 2022 season, the club and head coachConor Casey agreed to mutually part ways after posting a dismal 6W-22L-6D record, the worst in club history.[3] On November 17, 2022 The Battery appointed reigning USL Championship Coach of the YearBen Pirmann as head coach fromMemphis 901 FC.[4]
The Battery retained 10 players from the 2022 team going into the 2023 season, with 18 others initially departing into free agency.[5]
| Squad No. | Name | Nationality | Position(s) | Date of birth (age) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||
| 24 | Daniel Kuzemka |  | GK | (1998-09-23)September 23, 1998 (age 27) |
| 25 | Trey Muse | | GK | (1999-07-26)July 26, 1999 (age 26) |
| 31 | Danny Fischer | | GK | (2004-11-16)November 16, 2004 (age 21) |
| Defenders | ||||
| 2 | Pierre Reedy | | FB | (1998-01-11)January 11, 1998 (age 27) |
| 2 | Mark Segbers | | FB | (1996-04-18)April 18, 1996 (age 29) |
| 3 | A.J. Cochran | | DF | (1993-02-09)February 9, 1993 (age 32) |
| 5 | Leland Archer |  | DF | (1996-01-08)January 8, 1996 (age 29) |
| 14 | Derek Dodson | | DF | (1998-11-03)November 3, 1998 (age 27) |
| 20 | A.J. Paterson |  | DF | (1996-01-31)January 31, 1996 (age 29) |
| 23 | Juan Palma |  | DF | (1999-07-18)July 18, 1999 (age 26) |
| 28 | Deklan Wynne |  | DF | (1995-03-20)March 20, 1995 (age 30) |
| Midfielders | ||||
| 4 | Chris Allan |  | MF | (1998-09-27)September 27, 1998 (age 27) |
| 7 | Andrew Booth |  | MF | (1997-07-16)July 16, 1997 (age 28) |
| 8 | Emilio Ycaza | | MF | (1997-07-10)July 10, 1997 (age 28) |
| 10 | Handwalla Bwana |  | AM | (1999-06-25)June 25, 1999 (age 26) |
| 10 | Arturo Rodriguez | | MF | (1998-12-15)December 15, 1998 (age 26) |
| 11 | Fidel Barajas |  | MF | (2006-04-05)April 5, 2006 (age 19) |
| 15 | Joseph Schmidt | | DM | (1998-11-02)November 2, 1998 (age 27) |
| 19 | Robbie Crawford |  | MF | (1993-03-19)March 19, 1993 (age 32) |
| 32 | Charles Dennis | | MF | (2004-09-13)September 13, 2004 (age 21) |
| Forwards | ||||
| 9 | Augustine Williams |  | FW | (1997-08-03)August 3, 1997 (age 28) |
| 13 | Nick Markanich | | FW | (1999-12-26)December 26, 1999 (age 25) |
| 16 | Matthias Dennis | | FW | (2006-10-15)October 15, 2006 (age 19) |
| 17 | Aidan Apodaca | | FW | (1996-05-24)May 24, 1996 (age 29) |
| 21 | Tristan Trager | | FW | (1999-08-28)August 28, 1999 (age 26) |
| 22 | Jesse Randall | | FW | (2002-08-19)August 19, 2002 (age 23) |
| 69 | Roberto Avila | | FW | (2000-10-16)October 16, 2000 (age 25) |
Last updated: 20 April 2023.
Source:Battery,USL Championship
| Pos. | Player | Signed from | Details | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MF | Emilio Ycaza | Rio Grande Valley FC Toros | Free Transfer | December 8, 2022 | [6] |
| DF | Derek Dodson | Memphis 901 FC | Free Transfer | December 15, 2022 | [7] |
| MF | Chris Allan | Memphis 901 FC | Free Transfer | December 20, 2022 | [8] |
| DF | Juan Palma | Once Caldas | Free Transfer | December 27, 2022 | [9] |
| GK | Trey Muse | Loudoun United FC | Free Transfer | December 29, 2022 | [10] |
| DF | Deklan Wynne | Detroit City FC | Free Transfer | January 3, 2023 | [11] |
| MF |  Handwalla Bwana | Nashville SC | Free Transfer | January 11, 2023 | [12] |
| FW | Tristan Trager | Atlanta United 2 | Undisclosed Fee | January 17, 2023 | [13] |
| DF | A. J. Cochran | Indy Eleven | Free Transfer | February 2, 2023 | [14] |
| GK | Danny Fischer | St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC | Academy contract | February 7, 2023 | [15] |
| FW | Nick Markanich | FC Cincinnati | Free transfer | February 16, 2023 | [16] |
| MF | Dante Polvara | Aberdeen F.C. | Loan | March 8, 2023 | [17] |
| MF | Charlie Dennis | Tormenta FC academy | Academy contract | March 21, 2023 | [18] |
| FW | Mattie Dennis | SC Surf | Academy contract | March 21, 2023 | [18] |
| FW | Jesse Randall | Wellington Olympic AFC | Free transfer | March 22, 2023 | [19] |
| MF | Arturo Rodríguez | Phoenix Rising FC | Free transfer | March 24, 2023 | [20] |
| FW | Beto Avila | Houston Dynamo FC | Loan | May 26, 2023 | [21] |
| MF | Pierre Reedy | Dundee F.C. | Free transfer | July 14, 2023 | [22] |
| DF | Mark Segbers | Miami FC | Undisclosed Fee | September 22, 2023 | [23] |
| February 5Preseason | Charleston Battery | 6–0 | Coastal Carolina | |
| Report |
| February 11Preseason | Charlotte FC | 3–0 | Charleston Battery | Charlotte, North Carolina |
Copetti 55'Bender 68'Santos 73' | Report | Stadium:Bank of America Stadium | ||
| Note: The match was moved to Charlotte from Charleston due to inclement weather in the original location. | ||||
| February 18Preseason | Charleston Battery | 0–0 | South Carolina | |
| Report |
| February 22Preseason | Charleston Battery | 3–0 | College of Charleston | |
| Report |
| February 25Preseason | North Carolina FC | 2–1 | Charleston Battery | |
| Report |
| March 4Preseason | Charleston Battery | 1–0 | Tormenta FC | |
| Report |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC(S) | 34 | 19 | 5 | 10 | 50 | 29 | +21 | 67 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 34 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 60 | 39 | +21 | 63 | |
| 3 | Charleston Battery | 34 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 47 | 43 | +4 | 59 | |
| 4 | Memphis 901 FC | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 59 | 53 | +6 | 52 | |
| 5 | Louisville City FC | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 41 | 44 | −3 | 50 |
| March 111 | Charleston Battery | 1–1 | Phoenix Rising | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| Report |
| Stadium:Patriots Point Attendance: 3,513 Referee: Thomas Snyder |
| March 182 | Sacramento Republic FC | 1–1 | Charleston Battery | Sacramento, California |
| 10:00 PMEDT | Jack Gurr 55' | Report | AJ Paterson 22' | Stadium:Heart Health Park Attendance: 11,569 Referee: Brad Jensen |
| March 253 | Charleston Battery | 3–0 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 7:30 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Attendance: 3,138 Referee: Sergii Demianchuk |
| April 84 | Charleston Battery | 3−2 | Hartford Athletic | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Attendance: 1,661 Referee: Sergii Boiko |
| April 125 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1–2 | Charleston Battery | St. Petersburg, Florida |
| Report | Stadium:Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 3,534 |
| April 156 | FC Tulsa | 1–2 | Charleston Battery | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 6:00 PMEDT | Epps 14' | Report | Markanich 5' Polvara 50' | Stadium:ONEOK Field Attendance: 4,007 Referee: Elton García |
| April 227 | Charleston Battery | 0–0 | Louisville City FC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 7:30 PMEDT | Williams 7'  90'Allan 81'Dodson 84'Trager 86' | Report | Thellufsen 66' Moguel 88' | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Referee: Calin Radosav Assistant referees: Jeffrey Skinker Assistant referees: Marcus Moss Fourth official: John Rush |
| Note: Kick off was delayed to 8:06 PM due to weather.[28] | ||||
| April 298 | Charleston Battery | 1–2 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex |
| May 59 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 0–1 | Charleston Battery | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 10:30 PMEDT | Report | Williams 59' (pen.) | Stadium:Cashman Field Referee: Malik Badawi |
| May 1310 | Charleston Battery | 0–7 | San Antonio FC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 6:30 PMEDT | Booth 88' | Report | Adeniran 8' Garcia 20', 34'Oluwaseyi 26', 32', 53'Hayes 45+2'Batista 67'Bailone 80', 89' | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 3,053 Referee: Eric Tattersall |
| May 2011 | Charleston Battery | 1–0 | Monterey Bay FC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 5:00 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex |
| May 2712 | Rio Grande Valley FC | 0–2 | Charleston Battery | Edinburg, Texas |
| 7:00 PMEDT | Benítez 51' Nodarse 78'Torres 88' | Report | Williams 30',64' (pen.) #69 90+3' | Stadium:H-E-B Park Attendance: 4,991 Referee: Matthew Corrigan |
| June 213 | Charleston Battery | 0–4 | Indy Eleven | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex |
| June 714 | Charleston Battery | 0–0 | Detroit City FC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 10:30 PMEDT | Williams 33' | Report | Williams 15' Bryant 78'Fisher 60' | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 2,196 Referee: John Matto |
| June 1015 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 2–0 | Charleston Battery | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Report | Stadium:Highmark Stadium Attendance: 5,032 |
| June 1716 | Hartford Athletic | 3–4 | Charleston Battery | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 PMEDT |
| Report |
| Stadium:Trinity Health Stadium Attendance: 4404 Referee:Alyssa Nichols |
| Jun 2417 | Memphis 901 FC | 3–2 | Charleston Battery | Memphis, TN |
| 8:30 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:AutoZone Park Attendance: 3,688 Referee: Gerald Flores |
| June 3018 | Charleston Battery | 3–0 | Loudoun United | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 3,359 |
| July 1219 | Indy Eleven | 1–1 | Charleston Battery | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Report | Stadium:Carroll Stadium Attendance: 9,059 |
| July 1520 | Miami FC | 1–1 | Charleston Battery | Miami, Florida |
| 7:00 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:Riccardo Silva Stadium Attendance: 1,308 Referee: Gabriele Giusti |
| July 2221 | Charleston Battery | 3–1 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 3,703 |
| July 2922 | Birmingham Legion | 1–2 | Charleston Battery | Birmingham, Alabama |
| 6:30 PMEDT |
| Report | Stadium:Protective Stadium Attendance: 5,212 Referee: Matt Thompson |
| August 423 | Charleston Battery | 0–1 | Oakland Roots | Mount Pleasant, SC |
| 4:30 PMEDT | Report | Dodson 41' (o.g.) | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 2,487 Referee: John Griggs |
| August 924 | Louisville City | 1–1 | Charleston Battery | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 8:00 PMEDT | Lancaster 67' | Report | Palma 73' Ycaza 80' | Stadium:Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 7,285 Referee: Brandon Stevis Assistant referees: Nicholas Balcer Assistant referees: Eric Burton Fourth official: Benjamin Meyer |
| August 1225 | Detroit City FC | 0–1 | Charleston Battery | Hamtramck, Michigan |
| 7:30 PMEDT | Lewis 7' Bryant 27'Levis 81' | Report | Palma 40' Williams 71'Reedy 75'Booth 90+5' | Stadium:Keyworth Stadium Attendance: 7,022 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye |
| August 1926 | Orange County SC | 2–0 | Charleston Battery | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PMEDT | B. Iloski 45'+1' M. Iloski 48'Scott 58'Lambe 62' | Report | Wynne 26' Palma 43'Avila 45'+2'Dodson 60' | Stadium:Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Elijio Arreguin |
| Aug 2627 | Charleston Battery | 1–0 | Memphis 901 FC | Mt. Pleasant, SC |
| 7:30 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Attendance: 4,004 Referee: Nabil Bensalah |
| September 228 | New Mexico United | 0–1 | Charleston Battery | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| 10:00 PMEDT | Report |
| Stadium:Isotopes Park Attendance: 9,034 Referee: Alejo Calume |
| September 929 | Charleston Battery | 2–0 | San Diego Loyal SC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 7:30 PMEDT | Trager 45'+1',47' Ycaza 45'+3'Dodson 70' | Report | Stoneman 66' Damus 71'Guzmán 76' | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 3,691 Referee: Gerald Flores |
| September 1630 | Loudoun United | 2–2 | Charleston Battery | Leesburg, VA |
| 7:00 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:Segra Field Attendance: 3,017 Referee: Alex Billeter |
| September 2331 | Charleston Battery | 2–1 | FC Tulsa | Charleston, South Carolina |
| 7:30 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 2,945 |
| September 3032 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 3–2 | Charleston Battery | El Paso, Texas |
| 10:30 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:Southwest University Park Attendance: 6,736 Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
| October 733 | Charleston Battery | 1–2 | Miami FC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 6:00 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 4,463 Referee: DeShun Beard |
| October 1434 | Charleston Battery | 1–0 | Birmingham Legion | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 4:00 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 3,265 Referee: Austin Saini |
| October 22Conference Quarter-final | Charleston Battery | 5–0 | Indy Eleven | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 4:00 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 2,972 Referee: Jeremy Scheer |
| October 28, 2023 (2023-10-28)Conference Semi-final | Charleston Battery | 2–1 | Birmingham Legion FC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 7:00 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 2,762 Referee: Elton Garcia |
| November 4Conference Final | Charleston Battery | 2–1 | Louisville City FC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 7:30 PMEST | Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 4,438 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
| November 12, 2023 (2023-11-12)USL Championship Final | Charleston Battery | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (2–3p) | Phoenix Rising FC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 7:00 PMEST | PHX Report CHS Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 5,094 Referee: Elton Garcia | ||
| Penalties | ||||
Charleston Battery entered into the tournament in the 2nd Round.[30]
v
Savannah Clovers FC (NISA)| April 4Second Round | Charleston Battery (USLC) | 4–1 | Savannah Clovers FC (NISA) | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 7:00 PMEDT | Report |
| Stadium:Patriots Point Attendance: 1,617 Referee: Amiel Aleman |
v
Charlotte Independence (USL1)| April 25Third Round | Charleston Battery (USLC) | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Charlotte Independence (USL1) | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 7:00 PMEDT |
| Report | Stadium:Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 1,151 Referee: Andrew Musashe |
vCharleston Battery (USLC)| May 9Round of 32 | Inter Miami CF (MLS) | 1–0 | Charleston Battery (USLC) | Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| 7:00 PMEDT | Report | Stadium:DRV PNK Stadium Attendance: 2,726 Referee: Jonathan Bilinski |
